Gamers in Singapore who have resisted buying the parallel import models of the PSP Slim and Lite can now finally get their hands on the official local release version of the handheld gaming console starting today. It is expected to retail for S$280 (about $190) and be available in three colors--Piano Black, Ceramic White and Ice Silver. We are still waiting for confirmation from Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong on the new PSP's availability in other parts of Asia.

According to the press release, the PSP Slim and Lite has an almost identical footprint as the original version but, as the name suggests, it is also slimmer and lighter. In fact, Sony claims that the new PSP is 33 percent lighter (189g) and 19 percent slimmer (18.6mm), making it more comfortable to hold. The reduced form factor is partly due to the thinner battery and possibly the manual UMD cover. The earlier PSP has a catch that pops the UMD cover.

On the performance front, the PSP Slim and Lite promises better battery efficiency as well as loading times. The key feature, however, is the video-out function which allows users to play games as well as view pictures and videos on TV. One of our bloggers who managed to get his hands on the TV-out cable has the full details on this function. You can read more about it here.